Transmission slow to shift at WOT

[Drae]

I just noticed today while on the highway in my 2010 Expedition that when I pressed the pedal to the floor it took like 2 to 3 seconds for it to downshift and take off. I haven't had too many opportunities to get on it from the time I bought it a month ago til now because of snow and ice on the streets. As I look at the rpms while flooring it they don't move as if the throttle body doesn't know I'm commanding wide open throttle. Then a couple seconds later the engine revs up and she takes off nicely. Just checking if this is normal with electronic throttle controlled cars or if my suspicion of a defective throttle body is correct. No check engine lights or any other flashing lights come on. It reacts fine under light to medium throttle also.

 

[J Ski]

I just noticed today while on the highway that when I pressed the pedal to the floor it took like 2 to 3 seconds for it to downshift and take off. I haven't had too many opportunities to get on it from the time I bought it a month ago til now because of snow and ice on the streets. As I look at the rpms while flooring it they don't move as if the throttle body doesn't know I'm commanding wide open throttle. Then a couple seconds later the engine revs up and she takes off nicely. Just checking if this is normal with electronic throttle controlled cars or if my suspicion of a defective throttle body is correct. No check engine lights or any other flashing lights come on. It reacts fine under light to medium throttle also.

What year

 

[Drae]

What year

Oh sorry my 2010.

 

[JExpedition07]

It’s the stupid drive by wire delay, the truck “thinks” before it gives the 5.4 Triton the go ahead to scream up past the 5 grand mark. I get better results by a steady pedal application over mashing it and it removes that delay of the computer. Just put the pedal to the floor steadily and you’ll get that straight V8 power to the wheels with no delay .

 

[Drae]

Well that sucks. I would hate to have a newer Mustang with this. Its no time to think about wide open throttle when racing opponents. Is it something that can be changed with tuning? After I get my full exhaust kit I'm getting the SCT Livewire to bump a performance a little bit.

 

[JExpedition07]

Supposedly a tune will help out with this. I’ve read of multiple Super Duty owners who tuned the 5.4 after driving newer 6.2s that felt quicker and they said the throttle application became much more responsive on the 5.4. IMO all fords newer products have quirky throttle application.

 

[Drae]

Oh ok. Thanks for the info. I will be sure to tune it out when the time comes. I will just continue to ease into the throttle like you said because its no hesitation that way.

 

[1997SCEBFEX]

betting you might see a lil difference with a tune and everything freshened up.

 

[Drae]

betting you might see a lil difference with a tune and everything freshened up.

What other things should I be looking to freshen up?

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

What other things should I be looking to freshen up?

How many miles do you have on it and when were the plugs changed?

 

[Drae]

How many miles do you have on it and when were the plugs changed?

It's a little over 75K miles. I've only had it for a month now so I doubt the plugs were changed. I was going to wait until 90K miles if it doesn't misfire to change them. I specifically seeked out an 09 and up Expedition to avoid the spark plug nightmares as they were revised at this point. The truck doesn't shake, idle bad or lack in power at all just the late WOT response. The truck runs awesome besides that. I thought it was a TPS or Electronic Throttle Body going bad initially.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

It's a little over 75K miles. I've only had it for a month now so I doubt the plugs were changed. I was going to wait until 90K miles if it doesn't misfire to change them. I specifically seeked out an 09 and up Expedition to avoid the spark plug nightmares as they were revised at this point. The truck doesn't shake, idle bad or lack in power at all just the late WOT response. The truck runs awesome besides that. I thought it was a TPS or Electronic Throttle Body going bad initially.

If I'm not mistaken, the recommended change interval it 100K miles. Some of the guys have had great success with a tune and 93 octane gas. It just depends what you are looking for. @LokiWolf is pretty knowledgeable about tuners and has discussed them a various lengths in some of the threads. you might do a search on his name and tuners you should find a few threads.

 

[LokiWolf]

If I'm not mistaken, the recommended change interval it 100K miles. Some of the guys have had great success with a tune and 93 octane gas. It just depends what you are looking for. @LokiWolf is pretty knowledgeable about tuners and has discussed them a various lengths in some of the threads. you might do a search on his name and tuners you should find a few threads.

Thanks for the mention Andy!

Tuning would help A LOT on the throttle delay. But even with that changed the squeeze method of throttle application will still yield even better results. Don’t jab the throttle, squeeze it, fast but smooth application.

You already mentioned SCT, and I believe the LiveWire. Just get an XCAL 4 and save some money. LiveWire has some live monitoring features, but so does the XCAL. If you had a diesel or other forced induction, the LiveWire might give you some advantages so you could monitor EGT’s or Boost more easily. Not really needed with the 5.4. Use the XCAL to load the tune, disconnect it and throw it in your glovebox. Cheaper, and does everything you will need. Make sure to get a custom tune if you can. The out of the box tunes for the 3V 5.4 from SCT aren’t bad, but a custom tune with exactly your preferences is even better!

Good luck!

 

[Drae]

If I'm not mistaken, the recommended change interval it 100K miles. Some of the guys have had great success with a tune and 93 octane gas. It just depends what you are looking for. @LokiWolf is pretty knowledgeable about tuners and has discussed them a various lengths in some of the threads. you might do a search on his name and tuners you should find a few threads.

Ok I will search him thanks. If the plugs will hold for 100K, Im ok with holding off until I feel a hickup. I wish we had 93 here in Anchorage but because of our elevation they say it's not necessary. My best choice is 90 octane unless I find a performance shop with reasonable/real alternatives. After I get my Stainless Works exhaust I was going to get a tune as aggressive as possible for 90 octane and some economy tunes also. And if I find a solution to getting higher octane I will tune it for that too. There's no E85 here either so its not going to be a cheap solution. I'm not too worried until my Procharger dream come true lol.

 

[Drae]

Thanks for the mention Andy!

Tuning would help A LOT on the throttle delay. But even with that changed the squeeze method of throttle application will still yield even better results. Don’t jab the throttle, squeeze it, fast but smooth application.

You already mentioned SCT, and I believe the LiveWire. Just get an XCAL 4 and save some money. LiveWire has some live monitoring features, but so does the XCAL. If you had a diesel or other forced induction, the LiveWire might give you some advantages so you could monitor EGT’s or Boost more easily. Not really needed with the 5.4. Use the XCAL to load the tune, disconnect it and throw it in your glovebox. Cheaper, and does everything you will need. Make sure to get a custom tune if you can. The out of the box tunes for the 3V 5.4 from SCT aren’t bad, but a custom tune with exactly your preferences is even better!

Good luck!

Ok that makes sense on the response because I definitely jabbed it lol. When I gradually press into it it does as people have said and respond a lot quicker. I wanted to go with livewire because I want to procharge it later and rather be ready to be able to monitor necessary parameters on how the engine was running. My plan was definitely to get custom tuning but will try the canned tunes to see if it performs how I want it too. Thanks for the advice guys! I really appreciate a heads up about what to expect when I dig in deeper to this truck.

 

[chuck s]

I was under the impression that disconnecting the battery for more than just a minute or two and then reconnecting would make the electronics learn how the truck was driven and set things like shifts from a base line. Did I dream this?

-- Chuck

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

I was under the impression that disconnecting the battery for more than just a minute or two and then reconnecting would make the electronics learn how the truck was driven and set things like shifts from a base line. Did I dream this?

-- Chuck

It will allow the transmission to understand your driving habits but I don't believe it will change things that are programmed into the transmission and that where the tuner comes in.

 

[rjdelp7]

Ford's "Adaptive" transmission control(ATC), is a common complaint. Most people hate it and want to shut it off. It automatically sets shift quality and shift scheduling, based on drivers habits and sensors. It also has built in "safety algorithm" such as a delay when flooring on a curve or other less than ideal conditions. Many manufactures offer a button, for driver to decide sport or economy. Ford really needs this option. A battery disconnect(turn headlights on for complete drain) may help or an occasional aggressive drive. If battery disconnected, allow 10 seconds with key on before starting and a few minutes of idling, with AC on and off.

 

[JExpedition07]

Ford's "Adaptive" transmission control(ATC), is a common complaint. Most people hate it and want to shut it off. It automatically set shift quality and shift scheduling, based on drivers habits and sensors. It also has built in "safety algorithm" such as a delay when flooring on a curve or other less than ideal conditions. Many manufactures offer a button, for driver to decide sport or economy. Ford really needs this option. A battery disconnect may help or an occasional aggressive drive.

Ford offers Sport mode on some vehicles.

 

[rjdelp7]

Ford offers Sport mode on some vehicles.

Can you be more specific and provide examples?